Do Deer Eat This Stuff ???

[LampLighter]

AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/manygobbles/014.jpg

[DaveHawk]

if it has prickly leaves I do not think so.

[postoak]

When I was reading up on this stuff in the spring, I remember reading it was one of their preferred foods.

Edited:

Well, so much for *my* memory:


Beautyberry is considered by most biologists to be a medium preference browse species of white-tailed deer. However, in some locations, the fruit, leaves, and stems are heavily utilized by deer in the late summer and early fall. The low utilization of beautyberry during other seasons prevents it from being rated higher. With less than 10 percent protein content of the forage in the fall, and over 80 percent water content of the fruit, beautyberry is not a significant source of deer nutrition. Seasonally, however, it may be a significant portion of the deer's diet in some areas. As an indicator species of deer population relative to environmental carrying capacity, biologists conservatively note beautyberry utilization as a component during habitat evaluations.

Later edit:

Well, maybe it isn't so bad after all, I just read the following website instead of the one above:


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
The seeds of American beautyberry are an important food source for birds
and small mammals. At least 10 species of birds feed on the fruit,
especially northern bobwhite. The fruit is also eaten by raccoon,
opossum, and gray fox [30].

American beautyberry is considered one of the most desirable spring and
summer browse of white-tailed deer [1,10]. Cattle occasionally browse on
the leaves of American beautyberry [17].

[LampLighter]

Browse is what it amounts to. It's not exactly ice cream, but they will gobble up some when making their rounds. Anyway, we have far, far too much acorns and agriculture in my area to worry about beautyberry. Woods knowledge is good to know though.

[dave-t.]

There aren't many berries, fruit, or soft mast that deer won't eat, at least around here.